Pupil Language Ambassadors scheme launched for 2024

Routes into Languages Cymru has launched its Pupil Language Ambassadors scheme for 2024.

The programme, which is part-funded by the British Council via Welsh Government, was launched on 27 February, and saw 109 pupils from 17 schools across south Wales participate in a day of language-based activities.

The event was held in-person at Cardiff University’s School of Modern Languages for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout the training day, pupils engaged with activities which included introductory and interactive sessions delivered by the Cultural Institutes (Institut Français, Goethe-Institut and Confucius Institute) and a campus tour. They also had taster sessions in Thai, Italian and Portuguese which were held by some of Routes Cymru’s Student Language Ambassadors.

The scheme is targeted at pupils in years 7–9 and aims to train learners to act as inspiring ambassadors of international languages in their schools and communities.

The pupils are chosen by their teachers and receive training by Routes into Languages Cymru which helps them to deliver creative and fun languages and culture-based activities that challenge and change their peers’ perspectives on the importance of international languages.

They do this with the help of a bespoke workbook created by Routes Cymru which gives pupils a range of ‘challenges’ that they can deliver in their schools. Their overarching aim is to ensure their love of international languages and cultures.

Nazaret Perez-Nieto, Academic Director for Routes into Languages Cymru, said:

“Having some of our Pupil Language Ambassadors coming to Cardiff University for their first time was just magical. It was all worth it especially seeing their faces lighting up with the wide range of activities they enjoyed on the day.

“The Routes Cymru Team with support from MFL Mentoring, have worked incredibly hard to make this event a success. This year a total of 36 schools, 26 of which are new schools, and 303 pupils have been trained as Pupil Language Ambassadors either face-to-face or virtually which is a real testament of the appetite for languages and cultures among our young pupils in Wales.”

Pupils participating in the Pupil Language Ambassadors scheme not only receive training to become language ambassadors but will also be competing for the Pupil Language Ambassador Team of the Year Award. This will involve completing a series of different challenges which have been created by the Routes into Languages Cymru and the Modern Foreign Languages Mentoring teams. The winners of this award will be announced during the Pupil Language Ambassador Team of the Year Award ceremony later this year.